Late last night, Nintendo finally added Super Mario Sunshine to the NSO GameCube app for Nintendo Switch 2 (which is included in NSO + Expansion Pack). Announced around when the GameCube app was unveiled in 2025, Sunshine comes in its original form unlike the slightly enhanced port/remaster included in Super Mario 3D All-Stars. This means 4:3 aspect ratio, no controller rebinding (at least not in-game), and no higher res textures. On the plus side, you do get save states and rewinds, which will definitely come in handy for some of the more notorious shine sprites. Super Mario Sunshine can be a frustrating experience.
The official description from Nintendo reads:
“Mario, Peach, and an entourage of Toads have come to Isle Delfino—a sun-drenched island resort to relax and unwind. At least, that’s the plan. But when they arrive, someone has made a mess of the whole island and the inhabitants say Mario is to blame! The falsely accused Mario has promised to clean up the island (and his reputation) and pursue the real culprit along the way as he recovers the vanished energy source of the island, Shine Sprites. Use the trusty FLUDD on Mario’s back to tidy up and launch into water-based action, from spraying enemies to flying through the air with powerful streams of water.”
Super Mario Sunshine has developed something of a cult following over the years… or as cult as a Mario game can be. While it was well received upon its initial release, the subsequent years weren’t exactly kind to it. I remember liking it a bit as a teenager, then kind of hating it as an adult. I think all Mario games are a cut above standard platformers. It’s really no surprise that Super Mario Galaxy went for a more traditional style after, though I’m happy the series finally returned to the free-form 3D style with Odyssey.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
